Automatic filler and vent for storage batteries.



B. FORD.

AUTOMATIC FILLER AND VENT FOR STORAGE BATTERIES.

A'PPucATmN FILED DEC. T9. 1912.

Patented Dee. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. FORD.

AUTOMATIC FILLER AND VENT FOR STORAGE BATTERIES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC..19. 19x2.

1,168,992, Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Ill/VENT? Brace 1 5/0? ATZ'OR/VEV BRUCE FORD, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC FILLER AND VENT FOR STORAGE BATTERIES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Des, 14L, 11915.

Application filed December 19, 1912. Serial No. 737,635.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BRUCE FORD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Philadelphia, in, the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new anduseful Automatic Filler and Vent for Storage Batteries, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Storage batteries are so proportioned and designed that in order toobtain the best results it is desirable that the fluid level in themshall not be raised above a predetermined height. However, in addingwater to the battery it frequently happens that the fluid level israised too high and in that case and in the use of the battery, acid oracidulated or alkaline fluid frequently finds its way out of the jar orcontainer and causes inconveniences and sometimes damage.

It is the object of the present invention to provide the battery jar orcontainer with a filler which automatically prevents the introduction ofmore water or liquid into the jar or container than will raise the levelbeyond the-predetermined-and desired level.

The invention will be claimed at the end hereof, but will be firstdescribed in connection with the embodiments of it, chosen from otherembodiments, for illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1, is a sectional view illustrating a filler embodying featuresof the invention and also parts of a battery. Fig. 2 is'a section on theline 2-2 ofv Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a sectional view illustrating amodification. Fig. 4, is a sectional view illustrating anothermodification. Fig. 5, is a section on the line 5'-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6,is a view showing another modification, and Fig. 7, is ,a sectional viewtaken on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings 1 represents a part of the cover of a storage battery, 2represents a.-

part of the plates or elements and 3 represents the electrolyte and ineach case it is shown as at approximately the desired high level.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 4 is the ordinary screw-plug which isprovided with vents 5 and which serves to close the filling opening 0against the passage of liquid but permits of the proper escape of gas.6, is a sleeve fixed in respect to the cover and provided with a flange8. The sleeve is shown as made in two parts, screwed together as at 9..Within the sleeve 6 and between flanges thereon is mounted a revolublesleeve 10,

- threaded for the reception of the screw-plug for filling, the

4, The fixed and revoluble sleeves are provided with openings 11 and 12which may be 1n communication and which may not be in communication,according to the relative positions of the sleeves. The range of mot1onof the sleeves in respect to each other 1s limited by stops 13 and. 14,shown in Fig. 2 11, is the vent opening. When it is desued to introducewater into the jar, so as to raise the level therein to the requiredheight the plug 4 is unscrewed and the frictional engagement of thethreaded connect1on between it and the movable sleeve 10 turns thelatter so as to bring the openings 12 and 11 out of alinement or out ofcommunication; thus closing the vent opening 11. In these circumstanceswater or fluid may be introduced through the sleeve 10 until the levelrises and seals off the sleeve 6. No more fluid can be introduced,because there is no way for the air or gas above the fluid level toescape. In consequence of this it is impossible to raise the level ofthe fluid higher than it is intended. The screw-plug is then returned toplace and the frictional engage ment of the-threaded connection betweenthe plug and sleeve 10 causes the latter to be rotated, thus bringingthe openings 11 and 12 into communication and establishing communicationbetween the interior of the jar and the interior of the sleeve for theescape of gas in the operation of the battery. Otherwise stated, thevent opening 11, is open and tlie fillling opening 0, is closed by thescrew p ug In Fig. 3, the filling opening 0, of the sleeve 15 and thevent opening 16 are controlled respectively by. valves 17 and 18, ofwhich one is shut when the other is open. For this purpose they areshown as mounted upon the opposite ends of a centrally pivoted lever 19upon which a spring S acts. In this modification w en the valve 17 isopened ve 18 is closed, hence the level of the fluid as it rises sealsoff the bottom of the sleeve 15. When the level has risen to the properheight the operator closes the valve 17 and of necessity opens the valve18 which establishes the appropriate vent for the battery when in use.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cup-like vessels 19 and20 are rotatable the one in respect to the other and are provided withmate openings 21 and 22, and 23 and 24, of which only two may be incommunication at the same time. -When the openings 23 and 24 are incommunication the openings 21 and 22 are not in communication so thatthe ar can be filled only to a level that seals off the filling opening24.. When the rotatable member 19 is turned the openings 23 and 24 arenot in communication and the openings 21 and 22 are in communicationthus opening the vent 22.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the screw-plug 25 has screwand thread connection with the sleeve 26 which is free to rise and fallor have endwise movement in the fixed sleeve 27 being held againstrotation by the feather and groove 28. The openings 29 and 30 may be inor out of communication. When the plug 25, is unscrewed for filling theopening 0 is open and the sleeve 26 is in the position shown in Fig. 6and there is no communication through the openings 29 and 30, the risinglevel of'the fluid in the jar seals off the sleeve 26 at the properlevel since the vent opening 29, is closed. When the screw-plug 25 isscrewed in, it lifts the sleeve 26 by the screw and thread connections31, thus bringing the openings 29 and 39 into alinement thus opening thevent 29.

What I claim is:

1. A filler for storage batteries comprising the combination of a jarhaving filling and vent openings of which one is provided with adepending wall operating as a liquid seal, valve mechanism includingstopper provisions for each opening, and positive acting means wherebythe filling stopper provisions open and close the vent stopperprovisions when the filling stopper provisions are closed and opened.

2. A filler for storage batteries comprising the combination of a jarcover, fixed and-movable sleeves opening through the cover and providedwith filling and vent openings, of which the vent' opening is closedwhen the filling opening .is opened, substantially as described.

3. A filler for storage batteries comprising the combination of a coverwall, fixed and movable sleeves extending through the cover and of whichone operates as a seal, vent openings through the sleeves, and a plugsupported by one sleeve and having screw and thread engagement with theother v sleeve and adapted to shift the movable sleeve to establish anddisestablish communication through said openings.

4. A filler for storage batteries comprising the'combination of a jarcover, a fixed sleeve extending through the cover and constituting aseal and provided with flanges and with a vent opening, a revolublesleeve carried by said flanges and provided with a vent opening, a ventplug supported by the fixed sleeve and having thread and screwconnection with the revoluble sleeve,

and stops for limiting the turning move ment of the revoluble sleeve,substantially as described.

5. A storage battery jar having a filling opening provided with adepending wall which operates as a liquid seal and which has formedthrough it a vent opening, and means for positively closing and openingthe vent opening by the opening and closing of the filling'opening.

6. A filler for storage batteries comprising the combination of a jarcover having a vent opening and a filling opening, a depending sealingelement, and means all of which is disposed above the lower end of thedepending seal element and above the liquid level for closing the ventopening to permit the seal element to cofiperate with the fillingopening to limit the level of the electrolyte in the jar and for closingthe filling opening to permit the vent opening to operate as a vent.

7. In a storage battery, a cover having a chambered wall provided with avent opening, a vent plug adapted to be fitted to said chambered Wall,and means automatically sealing said opening when the vent plug isremoved, and uncovering or unsealing said'opening when the vent plug isin normal position.

8. In a storage battery, a cover having a chamber provided in its wallwith a vent opening, a vent plug removably fitted t0 the chamber, andmeans in the chamber for sealing said opening when the plug is removed.I

9. In a storage battery, a cover having a chamber provided with anopening in the Wall thereof, a vent plug removably fitted in theopening, means in said chamber covering the opening and adapted to beshifted by the vent plug so as to uncover said opening when the ventplug is placed in position.

10. A storage battery jar having a filling opening provided with adepending wall vent and filling opening'having a depending Wall providedwith a vent opening inside of the cover, a closure for the opening,

and a second venting means outside of the cover.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name. BRUCE FORD.

Witnesses:

CLIFFORD K. CAssEL, FRANK. E. FRENCH.

